Kamindu Mendis

Pasqual Handi Kamindu Dilanka Mendis, popularly known as Kamindu Mendis, is a Sri Lankan cricketer making the headlines for his Test cricket excellence. Born on September 30, 1998, the 26-year-old cricketer is an all-rounder, who has represented the Sri Lankan cricket team across all formats. He is a left-handed batter and an ambidextrous bowler. 

The Sri Lankan can bowl with both hands, with the right arm off-break and the slow left-arm orthodox at the helm. Although he debuted in international cricket in 2018, Mendis made himself famous with his Test reputation and has broken several records. 

Kamindu Mendis: Along the Years

Kamindu Mendis Records

• First cricketer to score 50+ runs in 8 consecutive Tests since debut 

• Second Sri Lankan batter to score 50+ runs in 8 consecutive Tests

• Fastest Asian batter to score five Test centuries

• Fastest batter to score 1000 runs for Sri Lanka in Tests (13 innings)

• Fastest Asian batter to score 1000 runs in Tests (13 innings)

• Joint second-fastest batter to score 1000 runs in Tests (13 innings)

• Most centuries while batting at No.5 or lower for Sri Lanka in a calendar year in Tests (5)

• Joint second-most centuries while batting at No.5 or lower in a calendar year in Tests (5)

• Second-highest batting average in Test cricket amongst batters with 1000+ runs in Tests (91.27)

• Involved in the second-most century partnerships for the sixth or lower wicket in Tests in a calendar year (6)

Kamindu Mendis Awards and Accolades

• ICC Player of The Month in March 2024

Kamindu Mendis Career

Kamindu Mendis has a truckload of runs under his belt in domestic cricket. His all-round ability makes him a proven match-winner across formats. 

Kamindu Mendis Domestic Career

Kamindu Mendis made his domestic debut for Galle Cricket Club against Badureliya Sports Club in Magonna in the AIA Premier League Tournament on November 30, 2015. He had a forgettable List-A debut, as he was dismissed for a duck. In the Sri Lanka Cricket T20 League 2018, the 26-year-old made his T20 debut for Colombo against Galle. He did not get an opportunity to bat but managed to take the wicket of skipper Suranga Lakmal.

A few months later, Mendis made his first-class (FC) debut for Tamil Union Cricket and Athletic Club in the Premier League Tournament Tier A 2018 in Katunayake on November 30, 2018. He picked up three wickets across the two innings and scored 45 runs with the bat. 

Kamindu Mendis LPL Career

In the Lanka Premier League, Kamindu Mendis has predominantly represented the Kandy Falcons. Barring a solitary season where he represented B-Love Kandy, he has played for the Falcons across four seasons. He has five half-centuries and 8 wickets under his belt in his LPL career so far.

Kamindu Mendis International Career

Kamindu Mendis has been a great find for Sri Lankan cricket. He is making strides in international cricket by smashing records in Test cricket. He would be eyeing to replicate the same in the limited-overs and become a pillar of strength for Sri Lankan cricket. 

Despite cracking the Test format and adding records to his name, the 26-year all-rounder is yet to get going in the limited overs. Mendis would be eyeing to become an all-format asset for the Lankans and cement his place shortly.

Kamindu Mendis ODI Career

Under the leadership of Lasith Malinga, Kamindu Mendis made his ODI debut for Sri Lanka against South Africa in the third ODI of Sri Lanka’s tour of South Africa 2019. In his maiden outing, he managed to pick up his maiden ODI wicket of Rassie van der Dussen. He was unbeaten on 8 runs alongside Isuru Udana, as rain interrupted and the Proteas won by a margin of 71 runs.

Kamindu Mendis Test Career

Kamindu Mendis took Test cricket by storm with his exquisite batting. He made his Test debut for Sri Lanka against Australia in Galle on July 8, 2022, in Australia’s tour of Sri Lanka in 2022. He scored 61 runs in his first innings, before being dismissed by Mitchell Swepson. Mendis scored his maiden Test century against Bangladesh in the first Test held in Sylhet in March 2024. In the very next innings, he scored 164 runs and helped Sri Lanka win the match by a colossal margin of 328 runs. 

Mendis scored a brilliant Test century against England in the first Test of Sri Lanka’s tour of England in Manchester in 2024. He continued his rich vein of form in the series by scoring a half-century in each Test. In New Zealand’s tour of Sri Lanka in 2024, he scored a magnificent century in the first Test and managed to record his career-best international score of 182 not out in the next Test. In the process, the Sri Lankan managed to equal Sir Don Bradman’s record of scoring 1000 runs in 13 innings, the joint second-fastest in Test match history. He is also the holder of a unique Test record where he managed to score 50+ runs in each of his first 8 Test matches. He surpassed the record of Pakistan’s Saud Shakeel to enter the history books.

With 1004 Test runs in 8 matches, Mendis is just behind Sir Don Bradman in terms of the best batting average (91.27) in Tests (min. 1,000 Test runs). 

Kamindu Mendis T20I Career

On October 27, 2018, Kamindu Mendis made his international debut for Sri Lanka against England in a T20I in Colombo in the only T20I played between the two nations in England’s tour of Sri Lanka in 2018. He went wicketless in the first innings but managed to score a gritty cameo of 24 off 14 balls, before being dismissed by Adil Rashid.

Mendis was selected for the ICC T20 World Cup (T20 WC) 2024 held in the West Indies and the United States of America. He scored 11 off 15 balls on his T20 WC debut against South Africa. However, he failed to justify his inclusion and faltered to score at the much-coveted No. 3 slot.

Kamindu Mendis Under-19 Career

At the age of 17, Kamindu Mendis featured for the Sri Lankan Under-19s at the ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup 2016 held in Bangladesh. Under the captaincy of Charith Asalanka, he scored 156 runs in 6 innings, including a half-century against Pakistan Under-19s. He managed to pick up 5 wickets in 6 innings with a best of 3/36 against Afghanistan Under-19s. 

Mendis played as a skipper for the Sri Lankan Under-19s at the ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup 2018 held in New Zealand. He scored 180 runs in 6 innings at an average of 45 with two half-centuries under his belt. In their opening match against Ireland Under-19, Mendis steered the team to victory by playing a captain’s knock. He scored an unbeaten 74 off 73 balls alongside centurion and opener Dhananjaya Lakshan. The skipper scored his second half-century of the tournament against Kenya Under-19s, where the island nation won against the Africans. The Sri Lankans inflicted a colossal defeat with a victory margin of 311 runs. With the ball, the Sri Lankan all-rounder managed to scalp 4 wickets in 5 innings. 

Kamindu Mendis Captaincy

Kamindu Mendis was named the skipper of the Sri Lankan Under-19s for the ACC Under-19 Asia Cup 2017. Later, the 26-year-old all-rounder led the Sri Lankan Under-19s at the ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup 2018 held in New Zealand.